Unit 7: Topic 7 - 1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology Flashcards
What was the Assembly Line? Why was it significant?
The Assembly Line, invented by Henry Ford, involved breaking down the production process into smaller, specialized tasks that individual workers performed. This allowed for the mass production of goods at a faster rate and at a lower cost, making it possible for Ford to sell his automobiles at an affordable price. The Assembly Line became the dominant method of production in many industries and created many new jobs in the manufacturing sector.
The Assembly Line required workers to perform repetitive tasks for long periods, leading to physical and mental strain. Unskilled assembly line workers gradually replaced skilled workers in many sectors of manufacturing. Additionally, emphasizing efficiency and productivity often led to exploiting workers, as employers sought to maximize profits by minimizing wages and working conditions.
What was Scientific Management? Why was it significant?
Scientific Management, developed by Frederick Taylor, focused on increasing efficiency and productivity through scientific methods and work standardization. Taylor believed that the most efficient way to perform a task could be determined through scientific study and that workers should be trained to perform their tasks in this most efficient way.
This process was fundamental in creating the efficiency of assembly line work and was widely adopted in the 1920s to increase productivity and profits.
Why was Henry Ford’s Model T car significant?
Henry Ford’s mass production of the Model T car allowed for affordable automobiles available to the public. By the end of the 1920s, Americans owned 80% of all cars worldwide.
This wide purchasing of cars led to increased individual mobility. Ultimately, more Americans were able to settle outside urban areas into more suburban places. Roads even became a dominant feature in cities like Los Angeles and Houston.
Describe the role of credit in the 1920s.
In the 1920s, many Americans who wanted to purchase new consumer goods but couldn’t afford to pay for them upfront relied on credit to make the purchases. This trend of using credit to live beyond one’s means grew significantly as more people sought to improve their standard of living and keep up with their neighbors and consumer culture.
This system only worked well as long as the economy was strong and people could make their loan payments. It became a problem when the economy slowed down or experienced a downturn. If people cannot make their loan payments, they could end up in debt and potentially face financial difficulties. Abuse of credit would serve as a problem in the near future.
Describe consumer culture during the 1920s.
Various products were mass-produced during the 1920s as consumer goods. Some examples include toasters, radios, vacuum cleaners, and refrigerators.
These new products were often advertised using modern marketing techniques that employed psychology to convince Americans that they needed a particular item, sometimes by creating a perceived need for a product to solve a problem.
Describe the impact of communication technology on the emergence of popular culture during the 1920s.
Radio and cinema harnessed popular culture throughout America. People were exposed to the same cultural influences and shared common experiences, including shows, stories, fashions, and celebrities.
Radio broadcasters shared news but also entertainment like nightly shows. Cinema spread considerably; 3/4 of the US population attended movies weekly by the end of the 1920s. The movie The Jazz Singer (1927) ended the silent film era with synchronized sound and music.
However, the media often emphasized differences, such as race and region. Racist films like Birth of a Nation (1915) portrayed stereotypes and reinforced harmful attitudes. People in rural areas noted how media usually depicted urban stories.
